Keystone Winter 2023/24 Tip Sheet
Discover the Magic of the Mountains
Keystone is a winter wonderland with more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain across three peaks and five bowls. From night skiing, snow tubing and the World’s Largest Mountaintop Snow Fort, to ice skating, sleigh rides and more, there is tons of fun to be had from sunup to sundown, on the slopes and off. With the Kids Ski Free program, kids 12 and younger can ski and ride for free every day, all season long with just two or more nights of lodging booked through the resort. Convenient touches like free parking and complimentary red wagons for carrying gear and excited kiddos make getting to the slopes of one of Denver’s closest ski resorts even easier. Plus, skiers and riders can start their winter early at Keystone with the resort slated to open as early as possible in October.
Kick Off Winter at Keystone
Dust off those skis and snowboards and get ready to hit the slopes in October! Thanks to a state-of-the-art automated snowmaking system that covers the resort’s early season terrain, like the Schoolmarm Family Ski Trail, Keystone aims to open as early as possible in October to kick off the winter season. With snowgun technology that can sense temperature and humidity, the resort is able to efficiently take advantage of early season weather windows and crank out snow at every opportunity to open more terrain at a faster rate. With Keystone kicking off the season in October and Breck closing the season out in May, these Epic Pass resorts provide an endless winter of fun and adventure with one of the longest combined ski seasons in the country.
Bergman Bowl Unlocked: Adventure to New Heights this Winter
Get ready to adventure further to new heights at Keystone with the new high-speed 6-passenger Bergman Express lift set to debut in winter 2023/24! Rise high above the trees more than 12,000 feet above sea-level, where 360 views of surrounding mountain ranges greet you and wide-open bowls and gladed terrain await in Bergman and Erickson Bowls. While this terrain has previously been open for hike-to skiing and riding access, much of Keystone’s hike-to bowl terrain has largely gone under-utilized at the resort. For the first time ever this winter, both Bergman and Erickson Bowls will be accessible by lift, opening up this diverse terrain to a variety of skill levels. The new lift will allow guests to lap the mellow, dreamy high alpine terrain of Bergman Bowl, as well as access the more advanced steeps of Erickson Bowl that connect back to the Outback Express and Wayback lifts. For those guests still looking to earn their turns and reach more untouched areas of the resort, 1,300+ acres of hike-to terrain will still be available in The Windows, North Bowl, South Bowl and Independence Bowl for expert skiers and riders. To learn more about the Bergman Bowl project, visit KeystoneResort.com.
Off-the-Grid: New Sustainable Patrol Hut
In the spirit of Bergman Bowl’s remote and rugged terrain, Keystone has built a fully off-the-grid and sustainable patrol hut designed to operate in the secluded high-alpine. The Bergman Bowl patrol hut is located just off the top of the new Bergman Express lift and is made from 100% Beetle Kill Pine Wood. The hut will be heated with an interior pellet stove and run fully off of solar power. This off-the-grid patrol hut is just one of Keystone’s many sustainability efforts to help achieve Vail Resort’s Commitment to Zero – a goal to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030.
Refuel at Timber Ridge Lodge with New Indoor and Outdoor Seating
Rest and refuel at the newly expanded Timber Ridge Lodge on North Peak in between laps on the brand-new Bergman Express Lift this winter season! In preparation for the new lift and new lift-accessed terrain, Keystone’s largest on-mountain restaurant and lodge underwent a 6,000 square-foot expansion last year, including additional indoor seating and outdoor deck seating. Skiers and riders can enjoy beautiful, 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks on the wrap-around deck and warm up with a hearty bite to eat before hitting another lap in Bergman Bowl and beyond. New this winter, Timber Ridge will feature a Taqueria Station and signature Pork Green Chile Tacos, plus additional options including chicken, beef and mushroom tacos, loaded nachos, and chips and queso. Pro Tip: Don’t forget to flash your pass and take advantage of Epic Mountain Rewards, which includes 20% off all on-mountain dining.
Kids Ski Free Makes Keystone the Place to Be
Easy on the wallet, easy on the rules, easy to get on the mountain! Keystone’s long-standing Kids Ski Free program has been providing kids with free lift tickets since 2012. Kids 12 and younger ski for free at Keystone with no blackout dates when families book just two or more nights through Keystone Resort. Lodging accommodation options span from affordable hotel rooms to family-sized condominiums. Book your lodging through KeystoneResort.com for all of the details!
3 Mountains of Fun
Keystone resort is home to three distinct mountain peaks – Dercum Mountain, North Peak, and The Outback, with a font-to-back progression and layout. For beginners or those warming up their legs, Dercum Mountain is a natural first stop that offers a variety of learning, beginner and intermediate terrain, the majority of which is groomed on a nightly basis. Plus, first-timers can take in big mountain views, with dedicated learning areas located at the of Dercum and accessed by the River Run Gondola, plus enjoy Keystone’s Family Ski Trail, Schoolmarm, a beginner-rated run that just happens to be the longest trail on the mountain! When you’re ready to take things up a notch, make your way back to North Peak with never-ending groomers, long rides and bump runs that are sure to get your legs burning. The Outback, Keystone’s tallest and furthest peak, is for those looking for more natural and rugged terrain – adventure awaits in the Outback with tight tree runs, rocky drop-offs and more! For our most extreme guests, Keystone offers over 1,000 acres of hike-to bowl terrain. The Independence, North and South Bowls offer access to exclusive laps of secret stashes and tree runs. The only way to access these secluded areas of the mountain is by hiking. No matter your skill level, fun can be found everywhere at Keystone.
Ice Skating, Snow Tubing, and Sleigh Rides, Oh My!
Keystone offers a whole bunch of ways to play in the snow, aside from just skiing and snowboarding. High atop Dercum Mountain, a wonderous place known as Adventure Point offers up to eight lanes of high-speed snow tubing action. In the valley below, go dashing through the snow aboard one of our scenic horse-drawn sleighs to an original Keystone homestead where hot cider awaits. Take a spin or practice your best triple axel while ice skating across the scenic 5-acre Keystone Lake. And, find a haven for outdoor recreation at the Keystone Nordic Center with 10 miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing. No matter what kind of adventure is in store, Keystone is sure to have you feeling like a kid in a winter wonderland!
Upgrading our village: Kindred Resort, a Rockresort
Right next to the River Run Gondola will be the new home to Keystone's premier luxury development Kindred Resort. Kindred is one of the most exciting slopeside real estate projects in the ski industry right now and will feature ski-in, ski-out residences along with a Rock Resorts-branded hotel. This upscale resort will include valet parking, valet ski storage, 3 restaurants, a full-service spa, as well as resort retail and rental shop. The family-friendly Kindred Resort will also be the new home for Keystone Ski & Ride School and will have an exclusive pool and hot tub facility with unobstructed ski area views. Plus, an innovative public art program with new exterior sculptures and artwork proposed to enhance the mountain plaza. Upon completion in 2025, Kindred Resort will further position Keystone as one of North America’s great ski and summer resort destinations.
Keystone Fast Facts
Elevation
- Base Elevation: 9,280 ft.
- Summit Elevation: 12,408 ft.
- Vertical Rise: 3,128 ft.
Snow
- Avg. Annual Snowfall: 235 inches
- Acres of Snowmaking: 662 acres
Acreage
- Total Skiable Acres: 3,149 acres
Trail classification
- 49% Advanced
- 39% Intermediate
- 12% Beginner
- Conventional Trails: 130
Lifts (21 Total):
- 2 Gondolas
- 4 high-speed 6-passenger chairs
- 3 high-speed quad chairs
- 1 fixed-grip Quad
- 1 triple lift
- 2 double lifts
- 7 magic carpet surface lifts
- 1 tubing hill surface lift
Fun Facts:
- 2 – free, walk-to-the-lifts parking lots at River Run and Mountain House East, making your trip to the slopes that much easier
- 3 – reserved rows of close-in parking area specifically set aside for families to easily access the mountain in River Run Village
- 3.5 – the length in miles of Keystone’s longest run on the mountain, the beginner trail, Schoolmarm.
- 5 – vast bowls available for a truly amazing ski/ride vacation: Independence Bowl, Bergman Bowl, Erickson Bowl, North Bowl and South Bowl
- 53 – the number of automated, energy-efficient snowmaking guns that were upgraded in 2019 across Keystone’s early season terrain, helping us to be one of the first resorts to open in the country every season! In total, 662 acres of terrain are fixed with snowmaking capabilities at Keystone.
- 150 – the approximate number of red wagons available for easier transport of gear to and from the slopes
Location:
- 90 – miles Keystone Resort is located from Denver International Airport (DIA), making it one of the closest all-inclusive ski resorts to the largest airport in Colorado.
Stay connected: Visit KeystoneResort.com for terrain updates, snow reports, lodging deals, event details and the lowest priced lift tickets guaranteed. Stay connected socially at Facebook.com/Keystone and follow @Keystonemtn on Twitter and @Keystone_Resort on Instagram.